The TNEB Limited-NTPC joint venture thermal power station at Vallur is one step closer to commissioning. The installation of the massive 200-ton generator is all set to happen in about a week. The generator that will produce the electricity is scheduled to reach the plant in a day or two from a BHEL facility in Haridwar. According to sources, the work for commissioning the first unit (1 x 500 MW) of the 1,500 MW thermal plant is on at a fast pace. Estimated to cost Rs.5,423 crore, the first stage will be completed by December 2011 and the second unit five months later.

The major task of providing a multi-circuit overhead line (400KV) linking the plant with the Nellore-Alamathy-Sriperumbudur 400 KV double circuit transmission line has been successfully completed.

When commissioned, Vallur will be the first major thermal power project to be established in the State after the North Chennai Thermal Power Project, which was completed during 1995-1996.

When the two stages are over, the State will get 1,125 MW (75 per cent of the 1,500 MW) at a tentative rate of Rs.2.72 a unit. The project is being implemented by the NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Limited (NTECL), a special purpose vehicle.

The testing of all major and auxiliary equipment individually is underway. Heavy equipment like boiler and auxiliaries, including boiler feed pump, cooling water pump, induced and forced draft fans, are on a test run. The next step would be to collectively evaluate the performance of the machinery that belong to various functional groups.

Explaining the process, an official said that each equipment belonged to a specific system like the air, fuel, water and coal handling. All the systems would need to work together in perfect cohesion to produce power. "This would be ensured first individually and then collectively." As soon as the generator arrives, it will be installed, tested and linked to the other systems.

The conveyor system, that would bring coal to the plant site from the Ennore port, is in the final stages of completion. "An additional dedicated berth is being made available for the joint venture thermal plant and the North Chennai thermal station (1,200 MW)."